Bellevue Club member Sue Dills set four national records this past May at the U.S. Masters Swimming National Short Course Championships in Atlanta.

Competing in the 65-69 age group, Sue won all six of her events and set records in the 200 (yard) freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley. She barely missed the national record in the 500 freestyle and the 100 individual medley.

Although she pulled off a Phelps-like feat in her age group, the 65-year-old is a realist about her place in the annals of swimming history.

“Someone will break my records. They’re meant to be broken,” she says with a smile. However, she did share the secret to her competitive edge at this year’s national meet.

“This is the first year I’ve done strength training,” she says. “It allows me to train harder without shoulder injuries.”

Sue and her husband are charter members and have maintained their Bellevue Club membership despite now living in Spokane. Sue travels to Bellevue one week per month for business and rarely misses a workout with the Bellevue Club Masters Swimmers when she’s in town.

“The coaching here is so great,” she says.

Aside from breaking records, Sue is also gearing up for another go at the Waikiki Rough Water Swim this September. She says the milestones help spice up her training routine.

“It’s fun to have a goal to look forward to,” she says.

Fast swimming runs in the family. Her sister Toni Leclercq, also a Bellevue Club Masters Swimmer, finished in the top 10 in three events in Atlanta, and placed fourth in the 100 individual medley.

One more Bellevue Club member made the trek to Atlanta this year. Sheri Hart, 39, broke three national records and won five events in the 35-39 age group. No stranger to the podium, Sheri already broke eight world records in Arizona in 2009.

Canadian Connection
In other Masters Swimming news, Gail Gladwell traveled to Nanaimo, British Columbia, for the Canadian LC Masters Championships and finished in the top seven in six events, finishing third in the 100-yard breaststroke.


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